It's been a long wait but it was well worth it. Paul McKenna stepped into first team action for the first time since late February and helped inspire PNE to victory over Plymouth and extend Preston's run to just one defeat in seven.

McKenna got a standing ovation when his name was read out by the PA announcer before the game and they were singing his name on the terraces when he was deservedly announced as man of the match some 90 minutes later.

The midfielder never did anything spectacular, he never scored a stunning goal, he never even got an assist, but his calming influence in the centre of the park proved to be a crucial factor in one of PNE's most impressive performances of the season.

McKenna was one of the three changes to the side that had draw 0-0 with QPR and it was left to the other two returning players, Brett Ormerod and Darren Carter, to grab the crucial goals.

Ormerod's goal was typical Brett. The former Blackpool man made an intelligent run as he anticipated Kevin Nicholls' flick-on and he stabbed the ball home from just inside the box, his second consecutive goal against Plymouth in as many seasons.

Darren Carter's strike was the kind of strike that North End fans might have been waiting to see from the midfielder ever since he signed for the Club. Nicholls' free-kick was headed to the edge of the box and the former West Brom man showed great technique to volley the ball straight back to where it came from, into the back of the net.
North End's first chance came in the seventh minute of the game. Billy Jones had won a free-kick on the right after a surging run deep into Plymouth territory, Darren Carter stepped up to take it and he hit a nice inswinging effort right into the mixer. Sean St. Ledger was there to challenge for a couple of balls and with his second header he nodded it into the path of an unmarked Brett Ormerod, the striker acrobatically tried to divert the ball into the net, not knowing that Billy Jones was stood behind him in better position. Ormerod caught the ball with the end of his toe and knocked out of the reach of Jones, away for a goal kick.

Preston's first goal of the game came when Kevin Nicholls won a header midway into the Plymouth half. His flick took the ball straight into the path of Brett Ormerod who had made an intelligent run to anticipate the flight of the ball. Ormerod was clean through and with McCormick rushing out to meet him he coolly drilled the ball low and into the back of the net.

The Pilgrims had a decent opportunity on 20 minutes when Manchester United's Lee Martin got a yard or two of space on the right of the box and he squared a ball that Hayles missed but the ball still ended up at the feet of Ebanks-Blake, the former Manchester United forward could only half-hit his shot and Lonergan saved comfortably at the second attempt.

Some good build-up play almost brought a second for North End and for Brett Ormerod on the half hour mark. Sean St. Ledger had intercepted a Plymouth punt upfield to keep Argyle penned in their own half. The ball arrived at Matt Hill's feet and he whipped in a great cross right on to the head of Brett Ormerod, the former Southampton man attracted the attentions of the linesman's flag but he still managed to power a header that just cleared the bar.

On 38 minutes Preston North End boss Paul Simpson made what looked like an enforced change when Billy Jones was withdrawn to be replaced by Simon Whaley.

Paul McKenna was dictating things in the middle of the park and on the stroke of half-time he hit a lovely reverse pass into the feet of Karl Hawley. The linesman's flag was up though as Hawley smashed the shot wide.

Ormerod and Hawley linked up well five minutes into the second half. Brett won a ball and diverted it into the path of Hawley who was 25-yards out, but the distance didn't bother the diminutive striker and he hit a shot at goal that McCormick was forced to divert beyond the post for a corner.

North End had another great opportunity on the hour mark. Simon Whaley knocked a long lofted ball into the box and Hawley managed to win the ball with his head despite the attentions of two Plymouth defenders. The ball was flicked towards Ormerod and he managed to spin his marker to drill a low shot beyond McCormick but also just beyond the far post.

Plymouth enjoyed a brief spell of pressure on the 65 minute mark. Firstly a corner came in from the right and Lonergan's run to the ball was blocked by a scrum of players, but the PNE managed to clear their lines before the ball came back in to Lilian Nalis who hit a volley that had Lonergan scrambling across goal, it fell only inches wide.

North End's second goal came on 67 minutes and Darren Carter was claiming it for the second week in succession. Kevin Nicholls hit a free-kick in from the left and the ball was headed out to the edge of the box where Carter was waiting to hit a volley straight back at goal. The ball whistled past a scrum of players and nestled perfectly into the back of the net.

With only 15 minutes left on the clock Karl Hawley had half a chance when he ran onto a hopeful punt upfield by emergency full-back Simon Whaley. Hawley and the keeper McCormick both collided as they challenged for the ball and Hawley seemed to win the physical battle but the ball just didn't run for him.

McKenna was pulling the strings again in the 78th minute, this time he chipped a great little ball into the Plymouth penalty box, Hawley flicked it on and the ball bounced off Ormerod's chest towards goal, the diversion of the ball caught McCormick flat-footed, unfortunately for PNE Ormerod's improvised effort bounced inches wide of the post.

Preston made a second change of the afternoon seconds later when Karl Hawley received a standing ovation for his efforts when he was replaced by Neil Mellor.

Andy Lonergan was called into action in the 84th minute when Easter found space in the box on the left flank. Lonergan came out to close the angle well and Easter's shot was blocked wide for a corner.

But it was a corner at the other end of the field that almost brought the next goal. Sean St. Ledger climbing highest in the box to power a header down towards the goal, McCormick instinctively stuck out a leg and the ball hit his foot on the goal-line. Plymouth cleared the danger but only for a brief moment.

Preston should have had a penalty on 87 minutes. Kevin Nicholls mugged Nalis in the Plymouth box and managed to squeeze a ball across the six yard box to where Neil Mellor was lurking, it looked an easy tap-in for the former Liverpool man and it would have been had he not been wrestled to the ball by the Plymouth marker. It was a stonewall penalty, but referee Mike Pike disagreed and amazingly allowed play to continue.

The closing stages of the game saw PNE turn the screw, Sean St. Ledger was unlucky twice when he arrived late to corners and his headers only just cleared the goal, he might also have been unlucky not to pick up the man of the match award, but that of course had to go to the man who made his long awaited return from injury, Paul McKenna.